It has a 337-STC and Jim Christy said it should not be a concern in this airplane.

Thanks for the feedback.

The two folks with planes with miss-matched engines ought to get together and work out a swap...

Here's Jim C. 'S point:

A 601P is certified with a S1A5 motor
A 602 is certified with an AA1A5 motor

Different aircraft models, different engines (MM doesn't change that).

A S1A5MM and a AA1A5MM motor are basically the same motor (depending on case vintage, case design IS going to be different) both will put out the same 700HP.

However from Lycoming's point of view one is a S1A5 and one is an AA1A5 motor, From the FAA's point of view they are different motors and installing an engine (or engines) on an aircraft that isn't certified for that engine (without field approval or a STC) renders the aircraft not airworthy.

Here's the scenario that the FAA wants to prevent:

Guy buys aircraft with two different MM modified engines, and sends them off to Lycoming to be re-manufactured, Lycoming sends back two Factory re-manufactured engines (no longer Machen Modified) which are installed back on the aircraft, what performance and power setting charts should the pilot use?



At minimum, anyone considering buying a 700 with one or more incorrect engines ought to factor in the cost of replacing the incorrect (for the aircraft) engine(s) with used correct engine(s) to get legal.

IMO, you should just plan on selling both motors and putting on a set of U2As and being done with the whole engine issue.

Is this grounds for running away?

IMO, no.

But it is an indication of an aircraft that has been owned by someone who was willing to cut corners on maintenance, and maintained by someone who did not have much Aerostar knowledge.

Odds are good that other airworthiness issues will be uncovered in the pre-buy inspection for which the cost of resolving will be more than the value of the aircraft.

In the unlikely event that the owner (or maybe the owner's estate) is willing to make the plane right, buy it!

If not, run.

It has a 337-STC and Jim Christy said it should not be a concern in this airplane.

Thanks for the feedback.

Thanks for the support and encouragement.

I went my local FSDO yesterday and got issued my BGI (Basic Ground Instructor License).

BGI can be issued off my CFI written test results.

My plan is to do some brush up work with a local instructor and retake the test(s) with the FSDO late January.

Here's the interesting part of the story:

The whole time I was there different staff personnel kept coming in and saying "you're Forrest Ward!"

("Well yes I am, nice to meet you, too")

Turns out I'm famous (infamous) at the Richmond FSDO.

The story came out:

After my pleasant trip to Bermuda that was marred by my difficult interaction with the head guy at their equivalent of the FAA ("you have broken the law" this airplane is an embarrassment", "this isn't the United States", that was the nice stuff...) he followed through with his commitment to contact my Principal at the FSDO ("Sir, I'm Part 91, I don't have an assigned Principal at the FSDO")

He called and demanded that enforcement action be taken against me for my crime of flying to Bermuda with out of date life jackets that under US regs I was not required to have at all. He demanded that FAA put a stop to my wreckless (but completely legal) shipment of AVGAS to Bermuda. He followed his call with a letter formally requesting action be taken against me.

The FSDO realizing that this request (and telling the Head of the Bermuda CAA to pound sand) was a bit above their pay grades demurred and passed his demand, for what I can only assume was a public drawing and quartering, up to the FAA Regional Office, who did the only reasonable thing and passed it up to the National FAA Headquarters.

Where it sits on some poor admistrator's desk.

In my case, most likely, the "Group W" desk.

("You can have anything you want....")

To date:

No mail received from the FAA or the Bermuda Authorities.

On telling the story to my wife last night, she worried that the aggrieved gentleman in a position of authority might some how have me banned from the Island, or imprisoned for my crime(s) on my arrival for our Anniversary trip this January.

I'm doubtful his reach goes that far, but I'll contact my friends at the Bermuda tourism board for confirmation that I'm still in their good graces.

So...

My 1st proving trip managed to produce a NOTAM and spark a minor international incident!

If it throws a monkey wrench in to our 27th Anniversary trip it will be a full Hat Trick.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

The CFI checkrides are ridiculous, IMHO. If I ever let mine lapse I don't think I'd ever get it back. Anecdotally, in my area at least, the bust rate is well above 50%. Since no CFI in his right mind would send a guy for a ride that wasn't ready, that suggests to me an issue with the ride itself.